I came here on a weeknight before close because they have menudo which comes with a choice of flour or corn tortilla. The boyfriend ordered a carne asada quesadilla which was a tad on the greasy side but was really tasty once the grease was soaked up with napkins. The friendly cashier lady with the striking eyes gave great service and provided us with free chips and salsa while we waited for the food. My menudo was just what I wanted: tender, hot, and flavorful with onion and cilantro. Oh yeah, I also got three beef rolled tacos. They were really crispy, but not beefy and had rice filler. I didn't mind that too much but rolled taco enthusiasts may find that appalling. Overall, I would come to this sit-down joint for the service, soup, and some carne asada dishes, but would be a little more discerning with other menu items. read more

We had El Napolito cater my Mother-in-law's 90th Birthday Party for the entire family. The food was delivered to our venue on time & was one of the best Mexican food we've ever had! The carne asada was outstanding. The beans & rice, the salsa & guacamole, tortillas & chips were incredible. I would highly recommend them for any occasion you have if you want superb Mexican food! read more

Great local taco shop. Not the cheapest in regards to price but the quality of food is excellent. The stands outs are the carne asada and rolled tacos. The salsa bar has good variety and a killer spicy one I believe is called salsa diablo. The diablo doesn't only have heat but great flavor as well. Usually crowded and everything is cooked to order, might not be best place if your in a rush. Sit down relax and have a beer! read more

Very solid, comfort mexican food. The carne asado burrito was very meaty and juicy with a flare of char. Debating between Rudy's and Nopalito to determine my fav. The salsa is well known and sold throughout the various retail stores. Why buy from a store when you can come to the source. We recently tried the beef soup, wife stated it was too unhealthy for her taste, but fat=flavor, so to each their own. Tamales were ok, a little on the dense side. I'll have to try again for final verdict. My rating is skewed due the salsas and carne asada. read more

Tamales and salsa(s) are the best. Love this place. More often that not, we're the only gringos in the house. All I can say is, yum.

We visited El Nopalito's little grocery, and picked up freshly made corn tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa, and shrimp ceviche. We also ordered a tray of cheese enchiladas "to go" for the party we were hosting later in the day. Everything was delicious! I am especially enamored with their chips, which use the perfect amount of salt. Can't wait to go back and peruse the grocery a bit more! read more

Typical high quality san diego taqueria and wont disappoint. The food was slightly higher than the usual taqueria but probably reflected the fresh ingredients. The flautas didnt taste greasy while the carnitas were good but not rocking--i prefer mine a bit crispier. Portions are a good size. The restaurant is next to the liquor store...dont be confused as their sister market is in the same tiny plaza but on the other side. read more

Dang, just had the carne asada from the market, brought it home and grilled it up with the homemade corn tortillas from there also. YUM! Best part - a pound of the carne was about $5. That's right, $5. Well worth the drive down from Carlsbad :) My belly is soooo happy! read more

After reading some of the reviews, I decided to give this place a try. I could tell the restaurant does a lot of carryout, but I also read that I could eat in. I decided to do that rather than make a mess at home. My first surprise was that I had to go up to the counter to order my meal -- no waiters here. However, that was fine with me. My bigger surprise, however, was that once I ordered, the cashier that took my order turned to a big covered steam table and scooped up my food onto a cardboard plate and handed it to me. Now that is really fast service. The problem, however, was that the while the food was plenty hot, spice-wise, it was not hot enough, temperature-wise. It was lukewarm at best. The food was a mixed bag. The chicken in mole sauce was spicy and quite good. The refried beans and rice were OK -- but not hot enough. The cashier recommended the steak ranchero, but I found it to be a little too gristley and salty. The chips were thick and very salty. The meal was a good value, but I could never take my girlfriend -- no margaritas. I got there a little after 5:00 on a Saturday. By 5:30 there was a line of people waiting for carryout. I might try the restaurant again, but only for carryout. Then I can heat everything up in the microwave at home. But do I really want to bother. read more

Had the shredded chicken burrito. It was very tasty. Chips and salsa were also delicious. Would have preferred white meat chicken but still was so good! Cant beat the prices either. read more

I've had lunch there about 5 times. I always get the pork in green sauce with cactus and the chicharron (pork skin) in red sauce with beans, rice and tortillas. This is what you could eat at a mexican fonda in Mexico City and it is pretty good.This is the authentic mexican food at El Nopalito. The tamales are ok, I enjoy having them. I got to say that I just found out this place is C rated, so they are not exactly very proper. However, I stand by my previous comment: they can cook tasty food. read more

This place is the heat! My favorite mexican joint in Encinitas. The carne asada is delicious and the tamales are wonderful. The best thing about El Napolito is their roasted salsa. Just the right amount of heat with tons of flavor, they have it in their salsa bar and you can also buy a container to take home with you. read more

This is some of the best fast service Mexican I have tasted in North County. Street Taco's are authentic tasting. Service is great, happy and helpful. read more

First visit here based on other yelpers. Came at about 6:30, so getting close to their closing time of 7:45. Chips and salsa were very good - the chips themselves are much thicker than a typical tortilla chip and had really good taste, the salsa bar had a number of different varieties that all tasted very good. I had the carnitas meal, the refried beans were a little dry for my taste but were still ok. The meat itself was very good, not too dry and nice smoky flavor. Ambience is typical strip mall with Mexican music in the background. Service was good, and the meal arrived very quickly. Would definitely go back..... read more

The only good thing here are their rolled taco's and their tortilla chips. Otherwise, their burrito's leak, aren't proportioned well, and overall not very good at all. read more

This is authentic Mexican food. The clientele is 80% Hispanic. I have been coming here for years and it is wonderful. My only caveat - This week, I found a few pieces of bone in both of my shredded beef tacos and a large piece of fat. This has never happened before and I am hoping this is an aberration. read more

Al Pastor burrito is top notch, as is just about everything else. Chips and salsa and guacamole are great and the ceviche (pre-made) is tasty too. The market next door has a great selection of tasty carnivore delights. On top of all that, they have great service. read more

Hit the Dodger game in SD last night, heading back to LA when we stumbled across this place. Holy shit balls it was good. Fresh sauces and tortillas makes for a great meal. read more

Will go back and buy more al pastor. This place is a little hole in the wall and I prefer it that way with their own tortillas and chips. Try the chipotle salsa, good heat and great flavor. read more

Ate here last night and found the carnitas to be gamey tasting. Should have stopped right there- my husband ate the dinner and is paying the price (he is sick). Be careful. Won't go again! read more

I just love there tacos either chicken or beef so full of meat and goodness with cheese salsa and lettuce.....not usually big on the beans and rice but there's is creamy and yummy!! I bought the chips which are out of this world and there ceviche and it was so yummy!! I wish they had one in my area!! When I go see my folks I make this a must stop to eat. read more

Excellent "stand up" Mexican. They've got it all, gringo stuff and authentic stuff (even birria! yum). They make their own corn tortillas so I'd opt for those over the flour. Carnitas are a little blander than I'd like, but everything else I've tried has been excellent. Foodwise it's more of a 4-star but I had to upgrade it to 5 stars for being ridiculously cheap and a fantastic value. Warning - they close kind of early (for me anyway) - 7 M-S and 6 on Sun, if memory serves. read more

This is now my favorite mexican place in San Diego! Great salsa and chips! We always get the street tacos..Although I have heard there whole menu is off the charts! read more

My husband grew up in New Mexico and is always on the hunt for good Mexican food. We were here on vacation, and found it via yelp. I am VERY picky with my Mexican food! We went down and ordered 4 different entrees, and the pina colada + orange frothy drinks. It was all sooo delish! Very busy foot traffic with to-go orders while we were there...a constant stream of people. They are super fast though! A tie for second best Mexican I've ever had! Hubby was thrilled with what he got and said it is the real deal! read more

My wife and I contacted El Nopalito's to cater our new house welcoming party for about 22 people in San Elijo. We had both kids and adults. I cannot tell you how easy and accommodating the entire staff was. They made it easy to select the menu based on our budget. They walked us through all the fixins and made sure we didn't over order. The food was off the chart yummy! Seasoned beef, chicken with onions and peppers, warm freshly made soft corn and flour tortillas. Fresh beans and delicious rice, and of course El Nops salsa is to die for! If you haven't had it, you're missing out in a big way. We're so happy to recommend El Nopalito's to the world. We will be long time customers! Thank you Ruben and the entire group! read more

I'm madly in love with their salsas! Fresh and tasty. The guacamole is a huge hit too. A "must have" every time I glamp on the beach in the area! Addicted! So good even the camp store sells out. Luckily Seaside Market carries them too! read more

Delicious. The roasted salsa is amazing. The restaurant is well priced and authentic. Love the market as well. The carne asada is super flavorful. read more

I love their salsa! It is the best stuff ever! I am so spioled cuz now I won't eat anything else! I also love their other food.

Basic, quick, Mexican fare ..... BUT .....the chips and salsa get 5 STARS! They are the best! Love the green salsa here. A better option in my opinion is to go to the El Nopolito Market across the parking lot and get chips, salsa, avocados, & hot prepared carnitas from the meat market. read more

It's good to find a real Mexican Cantina; not a tourist spot. I had the Chicken Tacos. Perfection!

Love their breakfast burrito with avocado and the chicharrones are a treat every once in a while! This place is the bomb!

We are craving Mexican and wanted something extraordinary. Did our YELP lookup and found El Nopalitio. This is basically a taco shop, with the usual menu of Mexican food. I ordered the enchiladas and they were good, but nothing spectacular. Salsa bar was very good, and the service was excellent and friendly. But the food was on par with pretty much every other taco shop I've tried. read more

Very delicious real Mexican food. Fresh guacamole. Daily fresh salsa bar with variety.

Can Mexican food be as good as sex? Yes, it can! Oh Nopalito, you complete me! Seriously good, hole in the wall style Mexican food. The best in the area for sure and my personal favorite in San Diego for authentic casual Mexican dining. Keep in mind that when they say something is spicy, they ain't kidding! Re-fried beans and cold beer do the trick to cool the burn that hurts sooooo good! read more

Roasted salsa is the best in the world. Food is outstanding. Legit mexican food.

Cool small grocery store. Great that I can come in and pick up some fresh made tortillas and all the salsas and sauces I need for a good a good Mexican meal. Fresh corn tortillas make a BIG difference. They are soft but still have the perfect amount of chew. They have good tamales too, the kind you normally would get from a cart after church. Will definitely be coming out and trying out everything. read more

BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO IN ENCINITAS!!! Make sure you don't get confused with the small mexican market in the same shopping center. They are the same brand, but there is a dive mexican restaurant that has amazing breakfast burritos. Personally I think it beats out the local favorite Robertos. Definitely give it a shot if you're in the neighborhood. read more

I just left this establishment. The food was average for Mexican food. The service was terrible if not racist. My wife and I ordered two combination lunches from their menu. We waited 25 minutes to get our order. In the mean time ten (10) people came in and ordered and were served while we sat and waited. All of these ten were of Hispanic heritage as were the employees. I had to go to the counter and badger the server to get our already paid for meals. I live close by but I will never eat here again!! I will spread the word to all my friends about the treatment and encourage them to also not frequent this establishment. read more

I ate at El Nopalito last week and this place absolutely rocks! The service was good but their carne asada was off the hook. Living in San Diego, we eat a lot of mexican food and I've had my fill of steak, but I really liked the carne asada here. I would highly recommend anyone step in and hit up this place. read more

Their roasted red salsa is amazing. One of the best salsa bars. Food is delicious and served fast. Great find.